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In a sharp political analysis published in India on September 5, 2007, Hamid Mir, one of the top Pakistani journalists (and also a CFP columnist) predicted the imposition of martial law in his country. His article, entitled “Pakistan and the ‘minus two’ formula” suggested: “Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s top advisers have seriously suggested applying Bangladesh’s ‘minus two formula’ in Pakistani politics (...) The army-backed interim government in Bangladesh suspended general elections for one year and imposed emergency in early 2007. The Bangladeshi army also attempted to banish two former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina from politics (hence ‘minus two’).”

(Editor’s Note: As his colleague and Canada Free Press columnist, the Polish-based journalist David Dastych, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir is alive and “kicking”, reporting from Swat Valley, which is a territory under Taliban control). GOOD NEWS! Hamid Mir is alive and “kicking”, reporting from Swat Valley (see below), which is a territory under Taliban control.)

MATTA-Swat-The imposition of emergency in Pakistan has not put any pressure on the Taliban in Swat district, who have not only announced the imposition of Shariah but also removed national flags from all the government buildings in the areas under their control.

There is a saying in Bor oral tradition, “Achin ke rec e bii e kaman”, implying that the coming of the visitor is a blessing. As small radical rats and cats in the house with my ever sipping, nibbling siblings, that proverb was my favourite, ever praying for any distant relative not to pass past our homestead. God, why don’t you send one today? And of course, s/he must be a heavy-stomached one, an idiom meaning a dignified guest so that the next worry—but what we have to eat from him—is answered.

Best Man—President George Bush—and Matron of Honour—Condoleezza Rice—are becoming increasingly frustrated as the reluctant bride—Israel—and a very impatient groom—the Palestinian Authority—continue haggling over the substantial dowry the groom is demanding from the bride’s family before the wedding of the year can go ahead in Annapolis this month—or maybe next month.

The United Nations has declared 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. What this portends was heralded last week by a four-day conference in New Delhi, awash in bureaucrats from about 40 countries and dubbed the “World Toilet Summit.”

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday, deploying troops and sacking a top judge in a bid to reassert his flagging authority against political rivals and Islamist militants.

As part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation of the United Nations “Oil for Food” program, the Department of Justice has agreed to defer the prosecution of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited, to pay a $2.5 million penalty, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. The agreement calls for Ingersoll-Rand and two of its subsidiaries to pay a $2.5 million penalty.

The situation in Belgium does not differ significantly from the situation in other Western European countries, except for the fact that it might be worse here than elsewhere because Belgium is an artificial state without a national identity to defend.

The arrival yesterday of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on a state visit has already generated more than the usual share of hypocrisy from both sides of a relationship built not on affection but on oil and commerce.

Even before he set off from Riyadh, the King chided our security services for allegedly ignoring Saudi warnings about the imminence of the 7/7 London bombings and for being half-hearted in combating terrorism.

Since Saudi Arabia is perhaps the most potent force behind global terrorism, promoting a deeply fundamentalist strain of Islamic theology worldwide, this must be one of the most hypocritical statements of all time.

Gujarat, India. Gold and woman are almost synonymous to each other. It is very rare to find a woman who does not get attracted towards gold and jewelry. It is the same with me also, but most of us are not aware that the net gold investment turns out to be a loss instead of gain. How? Well, you will be able to find more about it when you read my experience and co-relate it with that of yours.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack revealed this week that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been talking to ex-Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton about their experiences in trying to negotiate peace between Israel and its Arab enemies.

A prison menu offering ham sandwiches has prompted a multi-million-dollar lawsuit by Muslim inmates who claim their human rights were violated.

Officials at the high security prison in Leeds, England, denied they gave any of their 200 Muslim prisoners ham sandwiches. But they admitted a mistake in the special menus printed during the Islamic Ramadan holiday, the London Daily Mail reported.

One of the greatest injustices to the victims of racism, and in particular the holocaust, is the trivialization of it. One does not have to agree with the Dutch “Islamophobic” anti-immigration politicians Geert Wilders or Rita Verdonk, but what kind of person writes something like: “Whenever I see people such as Wilders and Verdonk I think of the Kristallnacht! The moment the Jews were rounded up…”?

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